Classicism In Ancient Rome

Many of the classical civilizations; Rome, Greece, China, India, the Islamic Empire, and the Americas, are classified on three main principles: art, ideas and institutions. These themes not only had a revolutionary impact at the time, but have been preserved and perpetuated throughout history. Classicism is the evolution of societies into civilizations, according to Marilynn Hitchens.(1) Classicism can be understood as defining and long-lasting civilization patterns shaped by belief systems. As said by Renaissance writers, history is “philosophy teaching by example”.(2) Rome’s classical period was distinguished by its belief in the laws: imperial law, God’s law and church laws. Rome also believed in human love and forgiveness. The latter
concepts lead to the idea of justice and human rights that Rome based its laws on.(3) Early Rome functioned as a republic within the Senate, mainly comprised of wealthy landowners, serving as the main governing body. Therefore, it is not surprising that the Senate served the interests of the rich. Eventually, the corruption and power of the Senate upset the Plebeians, and the Senate did not always serve the needs of those who were not wealthy. Because of these grievances, the Twelve Tables were drafted and put into place. With the expanse of the Roman Empire, trade played a vital role in Roman culture and society. When trade became a major role in Roman society they set up courts to deal with the problem of differences between foreign and Roman law, a new conflict that was introduced when the trading aspect of Roman society became a major influence on everyday life.(4) Conflicts would be presented in front of a judge who would rule on what seemed fair and morally correct, thus creating the idea of justice. This was called the universal law, a law that all people, including kings and emperors, must follow.(5) The idea at the time was that no one was above the law. The Romans also helped to create roads, baths, amphitheatres and aqueducts, all of which are still used today. Roman influence is still very present in today’s world, under the Roman Empire, Christianity spread and gained hold of Europe and the Mediterranean area. With the help of Roman expansion, Catholic beliefs have also expanded throughout the world. easier.
The most recognized part of Classical Greek civilization is its democratic political system which needed major participation if it were to work. This was closely tied to rationalism, the belief that human reason or intellect is the true source of knowledge.(6) Rationalism began with the Greek observation and speculation of the natural world. This raised human status to become the center of the universe. The polis is what the Greek democracy was founded on. A polis is a city-state, but also a culture around which a person’s meaning, civic purpose, and social responsibility revolved.(7) It institutionalized personal political participation and led to the idea of democracy. Every male over the age of nineteen participated in the direct democracy. They would help pass laws, elect chiefs of states, and help try cases in juries.
Humanism or the pervasive belief in the human individual affected Greek life in many ways: religious celebrations, the arts, the military, the economy and politics.(8) The Greeks had a strong military because of their idea of the phalanx, a formation of eight ranks of infantry soldiers in which all men marched together so closely that their large metal shields overlapped to form a wall that was virtually impenetrable.(9) This was the reason Greek military was so advanced for its time.
Trade also heavily influenced the Classical Greek civilization. With a prosperous trading system the Greek government had many activities to adhere to, one of these activities was honoring the gods. The Greek gods were human gods, in the sense that they possessed the same traits and qualities as humans. They had the same struggles of the individual and collective human nature and they helped to explain some of the most pressing questions many people had about life; including fate, human flaws, and a person’s mastery of self and of the physical universe.(10) The temples for the gods help to show the concept of Greek art, in the sense that they are balanced and proportional form all angles and their sculptures portray realistic and graceful
individuals.
In today’s world Greek influences are still present. The Greek way of life, stressing excellence, moderation, the individual, and civic participation, remains an ideal and has become one of the backbones of the modern world experience.(11) Greeks democracy has also carried over into many countries today, including the United States and many other countries and it remains to be the government system many countries use.
The classical Chinese period was structured on the family, divine mandate, and And educated government.
The origins of Chinese beliefs came from the gods, who tended to be anthropomorphic, having human characteristics, and nature and the people’s attitudes towards them.(12) There were many rituals the Chinese attempted to try to appease the gods. They would burn paper images in order to try and please the nature gods.(13) Family was very important in the Chinese culture. As a family they would worship their ancestors. By worshiping their ancestors they provided a communication link to the gods. The Chinese civilization had three belief systems- folk beliefs, Confucianism, and Taoism.(14) Taoism is the thought of heaven, earth and human beings constituted a single unity governed by the cosmic law. It is the balance of good and evil, it is a small, peaceful society that is self sufficient and is the harmony of opposites.(15) Taoism has two interacting forces- yin and yang. Yin is negative, feminine and passive. Yang is positive, masculine and
active.(16)